By TRACEY DRURY
tdrury@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1609

Officials of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System say layoffs and shuttered branches could be avoided as a result of a proposed plan by County Executive Chris Collins to cover a $6 million budget gap for each of the next three years.

Collins' plan, announced Friday, would  bridge a funding gap while the library system works on establishing a new governance system.

The plan relies on a combination of county contributions, as well as facilities maintenance and utility cost shifts to the county and other municipalities.

Sharon Thomas, chairman of the library system board of trustees, says the plan eases the process as the library continues to work toward a funding change that includes the creation of a special library district, a process that could take two to three years to complete.

"It gives us a reasonable prospect that we can keep the libraries open and not have to reduce hours and, hopefully, no layoffs," she said.

Collins recently sent details on the proposal to library officials, as well as mayors and supervisors throughout the county. He called on them to recognize their financial realities and responsibilities to keep libraries open.

This year's total operating budget was $27 million, with county support totaling $21 million.